Question about 'if name == "main":'

**PoD** · Jul 18 '05, 08:06 AM

Re: Question about 'if __name__ == "__main__& quot;:'

On Mon, 02 Feb 2004 23:33:42 -0800, Amy G wrote:
[color=blue]
> I have a program that needs a little help.
> Right now the program runs in my crontab. When it runs, it sets a few
> variables based on a query to a MySQL database. I would like to modify it
> so that it can run as it is... or if arguments are supplied, use those
> instead of querrying the database.
>[/color]

Hint: len(sys.argv)

**sean** · Jul 18 '05, 08:06 AM

Re: Question about 'if __name__ == "__main__& quot;:'

Thanks....

exactly what I was looking for.

"PoD" <pod@internode. on.net> wrote in message
news:pan.2004.0 2.03.07.39.39.5 4419@internode. on.net...[color=blue]
> On Mon, 02 Feb 2004 23:33:42 -0800, Amy G wrote:
>[color=green]
> > I have a program that needs a little help.
> > Right now the program runs in my crontab. When it runs, it sets a few
> > variables based on a query to a MySQL database. I would like to modify[/color][/color]
it[color=blue][color=green]
> > so that it can run as it is... or if arguments are supplied, use those
> > instead of querrying the database.
> >[/color]
>
> Hint: len(sys.argv)
>[/color]

**Bill Anderson** · Jul 18 '05, 08:06 AM

Re: Question about 'if __name__ == "__main__& quot;:'

On Mon, 02 Feb 2004 23:33:42 -0800, Amy G wrote:
[color=blue]
> I have a program that needs a little help.
> Right now the program runs in my crontab. When it runs, it sets a few
> variables based on a query to a MySQL database. I would like to modify it
> so that it can run as it is... or if arguments are supplied, use those
> instead of querrying the database.
>
> Will using this statement help me out?
>
> if __name__ == "__main__":
>
> I seem to recall that this returns true if it is run as a script by python,
> rather than as a module from another prog. Since I am going to run this
> from a command line - or from my crontab... it will always return true as
> far as I can tell.[/color]

This allows you to set up your script to act differently when imported vs.
ran. For return code, you can put in things like "sys.exit(retur nvalue)"
to exit w/non true.

[color=blue]
> Any suggestions to help me out.
>
> Ultimately I want something like this pseudocode...
>
> if (no args supplied):
> curs.execute("" "SELECT userid FROM users""")
> data = curs.fetchall()
> else:
> data = sys.argv[1][/color]

Personally, I'd go with:

try:
data = sys.argv[1]
except IndexError:
curs.execute(.. .)
data = curs.fetchall()

"Better to Ask Forgivness Than Permission"-ly y'rs.

Bill

**Amy G** · Jul 18 '05, 08:07 AM

Re: Question about 'if __name__ == "__main__& quot;:'

Thanks. I think I will probably use the len(sys.args) line. That seems
like a really staright forward approach since I will either be supplying an
argument - or not.

"Amy G" <amy-g-art@cox.net> wrote in message
news:k9ITb.2869 7$P17.28414@fed 1read03...[color=blue]
> I have a program that needs a little help.
> Right now the program runs in my crontab. When it runs, it sets a few
> variables based on a query to a MySQL database. I would like to modify it
> so that it can run as it is... or if arguments are supplied, use those
> instead of querrying the database.
>
> Will using this statement help me out?
>
> if __name__ == "__main__":
>
> I seem to recall that this returns true if it is run as a script by[/color]
python,[color=blue]
> rather than as a module from another prog. Since I am going to run this
> from a command line - or from my crontab... it will always return true as
> far as I can tell.
>
> Any suggestions to help me out.
>
> Ultimately I want something like this pseudocode...
>
> if (no args supplied):
> curs.execute("" "SELECT userid FROM users""")
> data = curs.fetchall()
> else:
> data = sys.argv[1]
>
> do something with data:
> blah
> blah
> blah
>
> Thanks in advance for your help.
>
>[/color]

Question about 'if name == "main":'